On March 1, 2026, “GB 4824-2025” will enter into force, formally replacing “GB 4824-2019.” Issued on February 28, 2025, by the State Administration for Market Regulation together with the Standardization Administration of China, the new standard fundamentally updates China’s electromagnetic compatibility framework, tightening and clarifying how EMC compliance is assessed for industrial, scientific, and medical equipment across a broader range of technologies.
As the enforcement date approaches, regulatory focus is shifting away from general awareness and toward practical execution. This shift is particularly consequential for foreign manufacturers placing ISM equipment, robotic systems, and medical electrical products on the Chinese market.
A Shift Toward International Alignment and Broader Coverage
At the foundation of GB 4824-2025 is formal technical equivalence to “CISPR 11:2024.” This alignment reinforces China’s alignment with international EMC principles while embedding national clarifications that expand regulatory reach.
From March 2026 onward, conformity assessments must be conducted exclusively against the 2025 edition. This shift establishes a new baseline not only for testing methods, but also for how products are classified and scoped under EMC regulation.
To support this broader framework, the standard introduces a significantly expanded terminology system. 13 new terms and 29 abbreviations are formally defined, including:
- “robot,”
- “industrial robot,”
- “medical robot,”
- “equipment with radio functionality,”
- “maximum internal frequency.”
These definitions are not merely descriptive. They determine whether additional obligations apply and which compliance pathways manufacturers must follow
What Changed: GB 4824-2019 vs. GB 4824-2025
The conceptual shifts embedded in the revised standard translate into concrete technical and procedural changes. The most consequential differences are summarized below.
| Aspect | GB 4824-2019 | GB 4824-2025 |
| International alignment | Based on earlier CISPR 11 edition | Technically equivalent to CISPR 11:2024 |
| Product scope | ISM equipment, limited treatment of robots | Explicit inclusion of industrial, medical, and mobile robots |
| Definitions | Limited terminology | 13 new defined terms and 29 abbreviations added |
| Radiated emission range | Up to 1 GHz for most equipment | Mandatory measurements extended to 18 GHz |
| Group 1 equipment | Limited requirements above 1 GHz | New radiated emission limits above 1 GHz |
| Internal frequency trigger | Not explicitly defined | Additional requirements when maximum internal frequency >108 MHz |
| Robot EMC testing | Not specifically addressed | Dedicated robot measurement section added |
| Operating modes | General operating conditions | Defined modes for fixed and mobile robots |
| Test setups | General guidance | Multiple normative diagrams for robot and modular systems |
| Measurement methods | Predicted and quasi-peak permitted | Peak measurement required; APD at five frequencies |
| DC power port appendix | Artificial network appendix included | Appendix removed |
| Radio functionality | Limited treatment | New normative appendix added |
As this comparison illustrates, many products that were compliant under GB 4824-2019 may no longer meet requirements without additional testing, reclassification, or design adjustments.
Scope Expansion and Reclassification Risk
The revised definitions feed directly into a broader and more explicit product scope. Once GB 4824-2025 takes effect, applicability extends well beyond what was typically enforced under the 2019 edition.
The standard will apply to:
- ISM electrical equipment operating from 0 Hz to 400 GHz
- Household and similar appliances designed to generate and/or use radio-frequency energy
- ISM equipment incorporating radio transmitting or receiving functions
- ISM RF lighting equipment and ultraviolet irradiation equipment within ITU-defined ISM bands
- Industrial, scientific, and medical robots, including welding, handling, assembly, processing, medical, educational, and experimental robots
As a result, products previously treated as peripheral or indirectly regulated may now fall squarely within the EMC enforcement boundary.
Expanded Radiated Emission Limits
One of the most impactful technical changes is the expansion of mandatory radiated disturbance measurements. GB 4824-2025 significantly deepens EMC assessment requirements, particularly for Group 1 equipment tested at a site.
Starting in March 2026, manufacturers must address.
- Revised applicability rules for low-voltage DC power supply port limits
- New tables defining when DC power port measurements are required
- Conducted disturbance limits for wired network ports
- Mandatory radiated disturbance measurements from 1 GHz to 18 GHz
- Defined maximum frequency requirements for radiated testing
Critically, new radiated emission limit tables apply above 1 GHz for Group 1 equipment. Products with a maximum internal frequency exceeding 108 MHz are explicitly captured, increasing compliance exposure for digitally intensive systems and embedded electronics.
Cascading Impact on Medical Electrical Equipment
These changes extend beyond traditional ISM equipment. The new radiated emission limits introduced by GB 4824-2025 — particularly those covering the 1 GHz to 6 GHz range for Group 1 equipment with internal frequencies above 108 MHz — will directly affect medical device EMC compliance.
As referenced standards are updated, manufacturers should expect EMC test strategies for medical electrical equipment to require reassessment and potential redesign.
Robots Brought Fully into the EMC Framework
Among newly captured product categories, robots represent the most visible regulatory shift. GB 4824-2025 introduces a dedicated section on robot measurement, formally incorporating robotic systems into EMC regulation rather than treating them as generic ISM equipment.
This change reflects both technological complexity and regulatory intent. Robots often combine high-speed digital control, power electronics, motion systems, and network interfaces — all of which elevate EMC risk profiles.
To ensure meaningful and repeatable testing, the standard establishes robot-specific operational requirements, including:
- Dedicated load condition requirements for robot EMC testing
- Defined operating modes for fixed-installation robots
- Separate operating mode tables for mobile robots
These provisions are designed to ensure that EMC assessments reflect realistic operating behavior rather than simplified or static test states.
Preparing for Enforcement in the Final Transition Year
With less than one year remaining before GB 4824-2025 becomes mandatory, 2025 should be treated as an execution phase rather than a buffer period.
Foreign manufacturers should prioritize:
- Identifying internal components operating above 108 MHz
- Confirming whether products meet the updated robot definitions
- Updating EMC test plans to include radiated measurements above 1 GHz
- Assessing applicability of additional requirements for equipment with radio functionality
- Engaging testing laboratories experienced with GB 4824-2025 requirements
Early technical review and structured test planning will be critical to avoiding certification delays once enforcement begins.
Ahead of enforcement, foreign manufacturers will benefit from a proactive compliance strategy that aligns product classification, test scope, and documentation with GB 4824-2025 requirements. For support with EMC impact assessment, testing strategy development, and China market access preparation, contact Cisema today.
With more than 20 years of on-the-ground experience in China supporting medical device registration and ongoing compliance, Cisema helps international manufacturers anticipate regulatory risk, execute efficiently, and maintain, or accelerate, access to the Chinese market.